WARSAW – A Wyoming County couple face several charges following the seizure of a young Grivet monkey, parts of a deceased red tail hawk and 11 small marijuana plants from their Town of Java residence.
Dara L. Jennings, 56, and Mark D. Galioto, 47, were both arrested Tuesday by state troopers in Warsaw and state Department of Environmental Conservation police, following a lengthy investigation into the illegal possession of the monkey.
Back in August, Wyoming County Probation Officers conducted a home visit, which led to the knowledge of the monkey, which was then seized by the DEC. The investigation into how the couple came to possess the animal continued.
The DEC later determined that the federal acquisition form that Jennings and Galioto used to purchase the monkey had been fraudulently altered. Both Jennings and Galioto were charged with offering a false instrument for filing and tampering with physical evidence, both Class E felonies.
Additionally, Galioto was charged with unlawfully growing cannabis, a misdemeanor. DEC officers also charged both Jennings and Galioto with illegally possessing a Grivet monkey, while Galioto was charged with illegal possession of a red tail hawk. Both are offenses under state Conservation Law.
The pair were arraigned and issued appearance tickets for a later date in Town of Java Court.
Dara L. Jennings, 56, and Mark D. Galioto, 47, were both arrested Tuesday by state troopers in Warsaw and state Department of Environmental Conservation police, following a lengthy investigation into the illegal possession of the monkey.
Back in August, Wyoming County Probation Officers conducted a home visit, which led to the knowledge of the monkey, which was then seized by the DEC. The investigation into how the couple came to possess the animal continued.
The DEC later determined that the federal acquisition form that Jennings and Galioto used to purchase the monkey had been fraudulently altered. Both Jennings and Galioto were charged with offering a false instrument for filing and tampering with physical evidence, both Class E felonies.
Additionally, Galioto was charged with unlawfully growing cannabis, a misdemeanor. DEC officers also charged both Jennings and Galioto with illegally possessing a Grivet monkey, while Galioto was charged with illegal possession of a red tail hawk. Both are offenses under state Conservation Law.
The pair were arraigned and issued appearance tickets for a later date in Town of Java Court.